In the 52 years since the U.S. Supreme Court paved the way for legalized abortion in the United States in the infamous Roe v. Wade decision, more than 65 million innocent lives have been lost. However, since Roe was overturned by the Supreme Court by the Dobbs decision in 2022, great progress has been made to protect women and their preborn children in Florida.
“While significant gains to protect women and preborn children in recent years have been put in place, abortion in Florida will continue at a very high rate under our current laws,” Bishop Frank J. Dewane said. “The attempt to pass the extreme, pro-abortion, Amendment 4 on the November ballot reminds us all that much work remains to open hearts and minds to the dignity and goodness of life in the womb and at every stage.”
Bishop Dewane, along with all Florida Bishops, has vowed to continue to proclaim in Parishes and in the public square the value of every human life and to highlight that there is a better way forward for women, families and society than abortion.
Keeping the unborn at the forefront of the public discussion remains critical, as Jan. 22, 2025, the Roe v. Wade anniversary, is now known as the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.
In a January 7, 2025, statement from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops regarding the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, the Bishops “praise God for the great opportunity state and federal legislators now have to protect pre-born children. While God, in His mercy, ended the nearly 50-year nationwide regime of abortion on demand (via the 2022 Dobbs decision), right now state and federal laws, in many instances, are still hostile to pre-born children. So, great prayer and advocacy is very needed.”
In Florida, a 15-week abortion limit was put into effect in 2022 and the State Legislature further limited abortion to six-weeks of gestation, which went into effect in 2024 and was challenged by the extreme Amendment 4.
Activities within the Diocese of Venice continue to advance the pro-life mission. For example, on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, is the 4th Annual March for Life hosted by Ave Maria Parish in Ave Maria. The event begins at 10 a.m. at the Ave Maria University Football Stadium with guest speakers, including Bishop Frank J. Dewane. The walk will leave the stadium and continue through the Ave Maria University campus before concluding with closing prayers in front of the Ave Maria Parish Church in the town square.
Then, a group of about 150 teens from Diocese of Venice Catholic high schools, as well as students from Ave Maria University and the Ave Maria School of Law, will be attending the National March for Life on Jan. 24, in Washington, D.C., joining thousands in standing up as a voice for the unborn. This annual event marks the anniversary of Roe. (For more information, please visit https://marchforlife.org/.)
Coming during in Lent, March 5 to April 13, will be the 40 Days for Life Spring campaign in Sarasota, Fort Myers and Naples. This is part of a national effort to take part in a peaceful vigil in front of abortion facilities to pray for the unborn and encourage moms to save their babies. (For details, please visit https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/.)
Through different outreach efforts, the Diocese of Venice will continue to support, accompany and assist pregnant women and young families. The Diocese of Venice is a proud partner in the “Walking with Moms in Need” initiative of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. This program educates the Parish staff and ultimately the faithful on where to send a pregnant woman for assistance. This program is crucial, as, for years, the Diocese has partnered with pregnancy help centers throughout the 10-county region. This is to ensure that pregnant moms have access to the support and resources needed and are encouraged to choose life, that they are accompanied by members of their faith community; it is important that mothers know they are not alone.
For women or men who have been scarred by abortion, the Diocese offers “Project Rachel,” an outreach of the Catholic Church to those who are suffering and in need of healing following an abortion. This program offers help through the sacraments, retreats, and referrals for professional counseling, all confidentially. For assistance, please contact, Sylvia Jimenez, Project Rachel Coordinator, at 941-412-5860 (English and en Español), or project.rachel@dioceseofvenice.org. The Diocese also works with “Support After Abortion,” a national outreach to provide individualized care for individuals impacted by abortion. For details, visit https://supportafterabortion.com/.
